Ghana Science Project

We are looking for volunteers for our planetarium and
science centre project in Accra, Ghana.
If you are interested, particularly in the planetarium project, please contact Dr Jacob Ashong on
00233 (0) 21 770 600.

If calling from abroad call
00233 21 769 204.

CALL NOW, or email:

jacob_ashong2@yahoo.com
with an outline of how you can help or for further information.

NEWS! Planetarium Director Dave Weinrich of Minnesota State University and Joanne Young of Audio Visual Imagineering Inc.
are helping Dr Ashong make the Ghana Science Project a reality!

Science Center’s Planetarium Coordinator Dave Weinrich Working to Help Establish a New Planetarium in Accra, Ghana

"Planetarium Coordinator Dave Weinrich has had a special interest in developing countries since his service in the Peace Corps in Liberia and Ghana. Several years ago, he took a sabbatical to do astronomical outreach in Sri Lanka. For the past 2 years, he has served on the governing council of the International Planetarium Society (IPS). On a personal trip to Ghana in 2006, he met Dr. Jacob Ashong who has the dream of building Ghana’s first science center. His vision includes a planetarium. The following excerpt is from the December 2007 issue of the IPS journal, the Planetarian. President Susan Reynolds Button writes about the project that Dave and others are undertaking to help Dr. Ashong accomplish his dream."

Caption: "David Weinrich initiated a pilot project with Joanne Young and the Ghana Science Center in Africa. Photo by Susan Button"

"As part of the Outreach Committee’s efforts to assist planetariums in developing countries, David Weinrich reports,” We have been talking about ways of helping astronomy educators in developing countries for the past two years. Now we are ready for a pilot project that we hope will lead to future astronomical outreach to many developing countries.”

"As part of this pilot project a refurbished Mediaglobe digital projector will be donated by Joanne Young at Audio Visual Imagineering, Inc. (AVI) to the Ghana Science Center in Africa. The science center will provide funding for shipping it from Orlando, Florida to Ghana. They will also provide a dome for the projector, identify local science teachers or astronomy enthusiasts who can be trained to operate the system and give shows and provide funding for the training."

"Dave explains, “We felt that it is especially important that there be active involvement of personnel and resources from Ghana. They have to be involved in the planning, the implementation and the future operation of the planetarium.”

“ We believe that it is especially important that local personnel be trained to run the planetarium and that there is adequate documentation of the project for media presentations and for reports to the International Planetarium Society.”

"Congratulations to David and Joanne for getting this project off the ground. Thank you Joanne for your generosity too, this could not happen without you.
Congratulations also to the Ghana Science Center as the recipient of this gift and for Jacob Ashlong’s efforts to make this happen. I eagerly look forward to progress reports about this pilot project and hope that this will be the first of many such initiatives."

"Contact Information:
David Weinrich (weinrich@mnstate.edu) Project Coordinator
Jacob Ashong (jacob_ashong@yahoo.com) Ghana Science Center"